4 reasons why the Reds' playoff hopes are not dead with 8 games to play

2. No team remaining on the Reds schedule has a winning record.

Unlike the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, strength of schedule isn't really taken into account when selecting teams for the postseason. However, it can't hurt to have the easist remaining schedule of all the teams battling it out for that final NL Wild Card spot.

The Reds have a three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-81), followed by two games against the Cleveland Guardians (72-81), and then three games on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals (67-85). Collectively, according to Tankathon.com, those teams have a .458 winning-percentage.

The San Francisco Giants, who are clinging to hope in the chase for the NL Wild Card, get seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and three versus the San Diego Padres. I don't like the Giants' chances.

The Chicago Cubs get the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, and Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the fact the Braves, and soon the Brewers, will have wrapped up their respective divisions, don't expect those two teams to take it easy on the Cubs. Chicago has gone 3-10 in their last 13 games.

The Miami Marlins, who just lost two of three to the New York Mets, get another matchup against Buck Showalter's club this season. The Fish also have three games remaining against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Miami is trying to finish out this season without their ace, Sandy Alcantara.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, who aren't out of the woods yet, have three games against the Astros, three games against the Yankees, and three games against the Chicago White Sox. The Cincinnati Reds have the benefit of the easiest schedule down the stretch.